Metro Theatre
A former Toronto cinema known for its Art Deco architecture, adult-film programming, and later counter-cultural use before closing in 2013.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Metro Theatre was a cinema and entertainment venue at 677 Bloor Street in Toronto, Ontario. Constructed in 1938, it belonged to a group of Art Deco theatres designed in Toronto during the 1930s by architects Kaplan and Sprachman. The venue opened in 1939 as a neighbourhood cinema, initially presenting second-run motion pictures and B movies for local audiences. Its physical design reflected the period’s emphasis on streamlined modern styling, while its two screening rooms provided several hundred seats in total and were supported by a snack bar. The theatre’s programming changed substantially in 1976, when it began showing adult films. This use continued for decades and became central to the venue’s public identity. Its foyer was decorated with signed photographs of notable performers from the adult-film industry, including Ron Jeremy. Although often described primarily as an adult cinema, Metro Theatre was not limited to a single cultural role. During the 1990s it also screened kung-fu films and operated as a counter-cultural performance space, contributing to the varied nightlife and independent entertainment scene around Bloor Street. The building had a visible place in popular culture. It appeared prominently in scenes from G. B. Jones’s 2008 film The Lollipop Generation and was briefly shown in the music video for C-Block’s “So Strung Out.” These appearances documented the theatre’s distinctive façade and interior at a time when traditional single-screen cinemas were increasingly under pressure from multiplexes, home entertainment, and changing urban property economics. Metro Theatre closed at the end of 2013 after the property was purchased by a numbered company directed by Saroj Jain. The purchase price is not specified in the available reference material. Following the closure, the building was divided into two commercial premises. The larger interior area formerly occupied by the cinema was converted into an indoor rock-climbing gym, while a smaller storefront facing Bloor Street became retail space. As a result, Metro Theatre no longer operates as a cinema, but its history remains associated with Toronto’s neighbourhood-theatre architecture, adult-film exhibition, alternative performance culture, and the adaptive reuse of older commercial buildings.
History
Metro Theatre was built in 1938 at 677 Bloor Street in Toronto and opened to the public in 1939. It was one of several Art Deco theatres constructed in Toronto during the 1930s by the architectural firm of Kaplan and Sprachman. The building was created as a neighbourhood cinema rather than as a major downtown palace, and its initial programme consisted of second-run films and B movies. This operating model made the theatre part of Toronto’s local exhibition network, serving residents who wanted accessible film entertainment close to home. The theatre’s layout included two screening rooms, reported as seating 286 and 320 people, along with a snack bar. Its visual identity was deliberately styled around the 1940s, giving the venue a distinctive period character. Over time, however, the cinema’s business and cultural role changed. In 1976 it began showing adult films, a programming decision that reshaped how the venue was known and differentiated it from mainstream cinemas. The foyer included signed photographs of performers associated with the adult-film industry, including Ron Jeremy, reinforcing that identity for visitors. Metro Theatre continued to have uses beyond adult-film exhibition. During the 1990s it was used for kung-fu-film screenings and as a venue for counter-cultural performances. This mixture of programming reflected the theatre’s flexibility and its position within Toronto’s independent and alternative entertainment communities. Rather than functioning only as a conventional movie house, it became a venue where niche cinema, adult entertainment, and live or semi-live cultural activity overlapped. The building also appeared in screen media. G. B. Jones’s 2008 film The Lollipop Generation used the theatre prominently in several scenes, while the venue appeared briefly in C-Block’s music video for “So Strung Out.” These appearances helped preserve a record of the theatre’s exterior and interior during its final years. Metro Theatre closed at the end of 2013. The property had been purchased by a numbered company directed by Saroj Jain; the available reference does not provide a verified purchase price. After the cinema ceased operations, the building was partitioned into two commercial spaces. The larger former theatre area was converted into an indoor rock-climbing gym, and a smaller storefront facing Bloor Street was used for retail. The closure therefore ended Metro Theatre’s life as an exhibition venue while preserving the structure through commercial adaptive reuse.
- 2013
Cinema operations end
[1]The theatre closes at the end of the year following a property purchase and is subsequently converted into separate commercial premises.
- 2008
The theatre appears in film and music video
[1]Metro Theatre features prominently in The Lollipop Generation and appears briefly in C-Block’s “So Strung Out” music video.
- 1990
The venue expands into alternative programming
[1]During the 1990s, the theatre is also used for kung-fu films and counter-cultural performances.
- 1976
Adult-film programming begins
[1]Metro Theatre changes its principal programming to adult films, establishing the identity for which it became best known.
- 1939
Metro Theatre opens as a neighbourhood cinema
[1]The venue begins operation with second-run films and B movies for local Toronto audiences.
- 1938
The theatre building is constructed
[1]Construction is completed on the Art Deco theatre at 677 Bloor Street in Toronto, designed as part of the city’s 1930s neighbourhood-theatre building programme associated with Kaplan and Sprachman.
Products and positioning
A neighbourhood cinema that evolved into an adult-film venue and later served Toronto’s alternative entertainment scene.
Cinema exhibition · 1939
Neighbourhood cinema
Metro Theatre opened as a local movie house showing second-run releases and B movies. Its two screening rooms, with reported capacities of 286 and 320 seats, supported a modest multi-room cinema operation with concession service.
Adult entertainment · 1976
Adult-film screenings
Beginning in 1976, adult films became the theatre’s defining programme. The venue’s foyer and public image reflected this specialization, including signed photographs of adult-film performers.
Independent entertainment · 1990
Alternative film and performance programming
In the 1990s, Metro Theatre supplemented its adult-film identity with kung-fu-film screenings and use as a counter-cultural performance space, giving the venue a broader role in Toronto’s alternative entertainment culture.
Brand decisions
2013
Closure and adaptive reuse of the propertyOtherBackground
The property was purchased by a numbered company directed by Saroj Jain, after which the cinema ceased operations.
Action taken
Metro Theatre closed at the end of 2013 and the building was divided into two commercial spaces.
Aftermath
The larger former cinema area became an indoor rock-climbing gym and the smaller Bloor Street-facing space became a retail storefront.
1976
Shift to adult-film exhibitionStrategyBackground
The neighbourhood cinema changed its programming focus after years of showing second-run films and B movies.
Action taken
Metro Theatre began showing adult films, a format that became central to its identity for the remainder of its operation.
Aftermath
The theatre became known as an adult cinema while continuing to host selected niche-film and counter-cultural activities.
Sources1 sources
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